Halifax Student Overdraft Error?!?!?

[Mike_P]

I recently recieved a letter from the halifax about my student overdraft (which I was in by £800 of the £1000 limit), the letter said that as I have now graduated my interest free overdraft would end on the 20th December 2009. I failed one of my years at university so asked if they could extend it by another year. They agreed and I now have until the 20th December 2010 until I have to start paying interest. Now for the strange part, having checked my account the balance now says £200 (not -£800 like before) and my available balance is £1200 almost as if someone's given me a £1000. Does anyone know why this might be? It seems ever so strange!

[factor-fiction]

Have you looked to see what transactions are showing on your account?

[buildersmate]

Are you sure that this isn't some cunning wording like ' the amount available to you is £200'?
This is quite a usual stunt that includes the extent of your approved overdraft in it and is designed to enable you to forget that if your balance goes below £1000 (in your case - because you have an approved overdraft of £1000), you will actually be paying them some money for the privilege of running your account.
Welcome to the world of running your own financial affairs, by the way.

[Mike_P]

there's no new transactions in the account, it definately changed from saying available balance £200 to available balanace £1200 and account balance £-800 to account balance £200. I just can't get my head around it. Is it possible that the girl I spoke to on the phone actually just reset my overdraft??

[buildersmate]

No, Mike, you misunderstand.
'Available Balance' means the extent to which you can draw money out - including your agreed overdraft.
It's a cunning stunt to try and make you forget that you'll them money if the physical balance goes into areears.
I'm 99% sure of it.

[buildersmate]

She's reset your overdraft so it is automatically added to your physical balance.
Just get the damned thing up to an Available Balance of > £1000 PDQ.

Here's another stunt these bar-stewards play. I have a free overdraft of £250. I also have an overdraft limit of £500 - but I pay charges of course if the Available Balance goes under £250. I never asked for these things.
It's all designed to try and trap me into forgetting.

[Mike_P]

yes im aware that available balance includes my overdraft. what im saying is that I have already had a student overdraft that prior to the phone call was at -£800 making my available balance £200. Since the phone call my available balance has gone to £1200.

[sara3]

surely checking your bank statement would explain how the balance has changed. even if you don't understand why. the figures would have to tally on your statement.

[another-view]

They have given you an extra overdraft by mistake. Phone up and tell them immediatly so you aren't tempted to spend it. They will notice eventually.

[Mike_P]

but my overdraft limit hasn't changed, 4 years ago when I set up the account it was £1000 and now its still £1000. I've checked my statements and there's no activity on the account for over a week

[another-view]

Then how has it jumped from -800 to 200. Obviously some activity has occured. Check your statement. What transaction made the blance jump up.

[Mike_P]

thats what im saying, it has jumped from available balance £200 to available balance £1200. I've checked my online statement daily for the past few days and theres been no new activity

[sara3]

well I don't know but I wouldn't suggest you run out and spend it. if they notice an error it could go as quickly as it came.. regardless of your balance!

[another-view]

Then go into the Halifax and see, as I fail to understand how you are checking your statements.

For example:
2nd December - £20 out of cash machine - balance £480
4th December - £50 from cah machine - balance £430
15th December - Deposit £10 - balance £440

Something on your statement MUST show your balance. Why do you believe it has gone up to £200 if nothing says so?

[Mike_P]

I'll go in and see, but I know theres been no activity, since the phone call the available balance has gone up by £1000 to the penny. So this is obviously to do with the £1000 overdraft. Im aware that transactions take a couple of days to show on your statement (online) but like I say I've checked every day and theres been no change

[factor-fiction]

This thread is going nowhere- if there are no transactions then your true balance will still be -£800. If in doubt, ask your bank.

[factor-fiction]

Have you had chance to check this out with Halifax?